Echeveria Plant Named &#39;OVPEARLS07&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Echeveria plant named ‘OVPEARLS07’ which is characterized by a globular prolife with an abundance of foliage that is tightly held in a basal rosette, greyed-green foliage that is lightly to moderately covered with light greyed-green epicuticular wax, and dark red leaf margins at and near the apex. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2019/3115, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria agavoides x Echeveria elegans var. simulans.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVPEARLS07’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVPEARLS07’ is a seedling selection resulting from the controlled pollination of an unnamed Echeveria agavoides plant (unpatented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Echeveria elegans var. simulans plant (unpatented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor in November of 2008 at a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. In March of 2009, one seedling was observed which exhibited unique foliage and growth characteristics when compared to the parent plants and all other progeny. After confirming the stability of the unique characteristics first observed, the new plant was selected for commercialization and given the name, ‘OVPEARLS07’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS07’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in March of 2009 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Through eight subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVPEARLS07’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘OVPEARLS07’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘OVPEARLS07’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVPEARLS07’ exhibits a globular plant form with an abundance         narrow succulent foliage that is tightly held in a basal         rosette; and     -   2. ‘OVPEARLS07’ exhibits greyed-green foliage that is lightly to         moderately covered with lighter greyed-green epicuticular wax;         and     -   3. ‘OVPEARLS07’ exhibits foliage that is margined dark red at         and near the apex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘OVPEARLS07’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 1 year old, shown planted in a 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘OVPEARLS07’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVPEARLS07’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVPEARLS07’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2019 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old ‘OVPEARLS07’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria which consisted of minimal subsurface irrigation, fertilizer applications, and chemical pest control measures against thrips as required. No other chemical pest and disease control measures were taken. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVPEARLS07’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVPEARLS07’ and a comparison with the parents and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             compact, non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant form.—Globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—7.8 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 18.4 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately to highly vigorous.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 5 weeks at an approximate temperature of 21             degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 1 year to produce             a marketable plant in a 7 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and             diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—No stems or branches; leaves arranged in a             basal rosette. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 148 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Narrow obovate to broad oblanceolate.         -   Dimensions.—8.4 cm long, 2.7 cm wide, and 0.8 cm thick.         -   Aspect.—Slightly concave and curled upward.         -   Attitude.—Foliage is tightly held upright at and near the             center of the rosette and becomes progressively more relaxed             towards the outer whorls of foliage.         -   Apex.—Bluntly apiculate.         -   Base.—Long cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and lightly to moderately             glaucescent.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and lightly to moderately             glaucescent.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to RHS 189A, and fading to in between yellow-green             and greyed-green towards the base, nearest to RHS 145B and             193A; margined greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS             190C and 190D, and becoming greyed-purple at the apex,             nearest to RHS 185C. Leaves are covered with a thin layer of             epicuticular wax which is colored greyed-green, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 188B and 188C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial             surface — Greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 189A and             189B, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 192C and 192D; margined greyed-green, nearest             to a mixture of RHS 190C and 190D, and becoming             greyed-purple at the apex, nearest to RHS 185C. Leaves are             covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is             colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 188B and             188C. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to in between RHS 189A and 191A, and fading to in             between yellow-green and greyed-green towards the base,             nearest to RHS 145B and 193A; margined greyed-green, nearest             to a mixture of RHS 190C and 190D, and becoming             greyed-purple at the apex, nearest to RHS 185C. Leaves are             covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is             colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 188B and             188C. Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 191A and 191B, and fading to in             between yellow-green and greyed-green towards the base,             nearest to RHS 147D and 193A; margined greyed-green, nearest             to a mixture of RHS 192B and 192C, and becoming             greyed-purple towards and at the apex, nearest to RHS 185B.             Leaves are covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax             which is colored greyed-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS             188B and 188C.         -   Venation.—Pattern — No venation is visible. Color, adaxial             surface — No venation is visible. Color, abaxial surface —             No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date. -   Comparisons with the parent plants:

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS07’ differ from the seed parent, an unnamed Echeveria agavoides plant (not patented) in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS07’ The seed parent. General coloration of the Darker greyed-green. Lighter greyed- foliage. green. General coloration of the Light greyed-green, Light greyed-green, foliage margins along the generally appearing as a general proximal portion. dull white coloration, appearing as a brighter white coloration by comparison to ‘OVPEARLS07’. General coloration of the Greyed-purple, generally No red coloration. foliage margins towards appearing as a dark red and at the apex. coloration.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS07’ differ from the pollen parent, an unnamed Echeveria elegans var. simulans plant (not patented) in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS07’ The pollen parent. General coloration Darker greyed- Lighter greyed-green. of the foliage. green. General coloration Light greyed-green, Light greyed-green, general of the foliage margins generally appearing appearing as a brighter white along the as a dull white coloration by comparison to proximal portion. coloration. ‘OVPEARLS07’. General coloration Greyed-purple, No red coloration. of the foliage generally appearing margins towards as a dark red and at the apex. coloration.

-   Comparisons with the closest known comparator:

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS07’ differ from the most similar variety known to the inventor, Echeveria ‘OVPEARLSO5’ (U.S. Patent application for which is being filed concurrently with the instant application), in the following characteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS07’ ‘OVPEARLS05’ Abundance of foliage. More abundant. Less abundant. General coloration Greyed-green Greyed-green but of the foliage. but generally generally appearing appearing as closer to as closer to grey green by comparison to by comparison to ‘OVPEARLS05’. ‘OVPEARLS07’. General coloration Less greyed-purple More greyed-purple of the foliage coloration, coloration. margins at and towards the apex. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveria plant named ‘OVPEARLS07’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 